I was lost in France... I've come home to play for Wales, says prop Gethin Jenkins

Gethin Jenkins has been known as ‘Melon’ ever since a school friend – many years ago – noted that he has a big head. The nickname is a literal one; he certainly isn’t cocky, despite his unique status.

No other Welsh player has the double distinction of being a Test centurion and a veteran of three Grand Slam triumphs.

The 33-year-old prop is on course to become his country’s most-capped player if he can stay in one piece during the approaching Six Nations. He ended the last one as captain of a Wales team who produced a record victory over England to retain their title.

Dragon heart: Gethin Jenkins in action for Wales on his 100th cap against Argentina in November

His exploits during a decorated international career spanning 11 years have seen the loosehead from Llantwit Fadre acclaimed as one of the leading players in his position worldwide, but for now he has no time to take stock of his place in the pantheon. All the focus is on extending the story.

Asked if he considers himself a ‘great’, Jenkins said: ‘I’m just concentrating on playing well enough to be picked for the next game. I keep my feet on the ground.

'You can’t expect any favours because of what you’ve achieved in the past. As a player you just have to keep your head down and keep working hard to make sure you keep hold of that jersey.’

So what’s the secret of his longevity, at the sharp end of an increasing punishing occupation? ‘I don’t know really,’ he said.

‘I’ve had as many injuries as most players, so I’m not sure how I’ve managed to play for so long! I suppose over the years I’ve adapted to the way the game has changed and in the way I’ve conditioned my body. I’m just glad I’m still going.’

Prize guys: Jenkins and Adam Jones lift the Six Nations trophy

Frustrated: Jenkins admits his lack of game time with Toulon damaged his international hopes

Thoughts of being up on a pedestal can be deferred for now; there are more pressing matters to consider. The next game in Jenkins’ sights takes him back to Toulon – where he spent last season, with limited game-time, before returning home to re-join Cardiff Blues.

Looking back, he said: ‘It felt like a good idea at the time to make the change and try something new, but it didn’t really work out. I wasn’t playing as much rugby as I wanted to for Toulon. Playing for Wales is important to me, I wanted to reach 100 caps and I felt the situation I was in wasn’t helping my attempts to do that.

‘I wasn’t playing enough because Andrew Sheridan was on fire, playing in my position. I can understand why they thought he was the man for the job, but it just wasn’t right for me to stay there.

'You can see it now with some of the (Wales) boys who have gone over to France and aren’t playing that much – people like Dan Lydiate and Mike Phillips are on the bench quite a lot.’

Home is where the heart is: Jenkins is delighted to be back in Wales following a spell playing in France

That observation leads on to the central
issue in Welsh rugby at the moment; the simmering dispute between the
WRU and the regions which has left the domestic game in a state of
crisis. Jenkins has a useful perspective amid the on-going exodus of
players and uncertainty about the future; as a star of the Wales team
who left and has come back.

He is appalled by the current state of affairs, with several key figures in the national team, such as his fellow Blues, Sam Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny, coming out of the contract at the end of the season and unsure of their next move.

‘I think it’s really unfair on the players,’ he said. ‘Players are worrying about the situation and to have the guys coming out of contract stuck in limbo is ridiculous.

‘They’re getting offers from elsewhere and some of them are desperate to stay in Wales, but there’s just nothing on the table. Both sides are quite far apart at the moment and I don’t see how they’re going to get closer really.

Uncertain futures: Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton are out of contract at the end of the season

'It will come to a head at some stage, but players want to get their deals sorted out by January or February – that’s the way it always works.

‘There are two big organisations (WRU and Regional Rugby Wales) against each other, and we’re the pawns stuck in the middle. We need to have a voice and stand up to it, but we’re being employed by these people, so we can’t be too angry.

'We just want it to be sorted out as soon as possible. If players go into the Six Nations with their contracts up in the air, it’s bound to affect them.’

Jenkins is not among the players coming
out of contract, so he can concentrate on the immediate job in hand;
trying to upset the reigning Heineken Cup champions in front of their
own fans, in the imposing Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice.

He will take heart from two previous victories over the wealthy French club’s collection of Galacticos.

Most recently, the Blues stunned them in Cardiff in October. ‘That game was definitely one of the highlights of my club career,’ said Jenkins.

‘The way the boys came back and the strength of character we showed at the end to win that game was amazing. It was one of the best wins we’ve had and the boys will have great memories from it, to take into this weekend.’

Further back, he was in the Blues side who shocked Toulon in Marseille to win the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2010. It was another red-letter day for the capital-city region and Jenkins said: ‘We had a pocket of fans in the corner and there were 50,000 people there supporting Toulon.

'All the odds were against us and no-one expected us to win except ourselves, but we came back strongly that day and the subs we brought on did a great job. That was one of Warby (Sam Warburton)’s first games; he came on and did really well.’

Despite the presence of three Lions in Jenkins, Halfpenny and Alex Cuthbert, the Blues team today will be raw and weakened by injuries, while Toulon can call on the usual glittering array of Test-class talent.

But Jenkins is hopeful that his novice team-mates will not be beaten before the match even starts.

‘There hasn’t been much talk about the names in their squad,’ he said.

‘I suppose quite a lot of our younger players will be in awe of some of them, but I am captain this weekend and I will say a few words to try to make sure they’re not over-awed by the occasion.’

In doing so, he will call on all the experience from his own stellar career. He may be modest about it, but one day soon, big-head ‘Melon’ is destined to boast a CV unmatched by any Wales player in history.